Effects of irrigation frequency under limited irrigation on root water uptake, yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat

In the North China Plain, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and root water uptake of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated for five seasons, under different irrigation frequencies associated with limited water supply. Results showed that, with half of the normal irrigation amount, the combination of different irrigation amounts per application and the total number of irrigation applications did not affect grain production and WUE in most of the seasons during 2002–07. Due to the high soil water-holding capacity and large root system of winter wheat, crop water use during each season was similar for all treatments. Results suggest that deficit irrigation applications given to crops in several small amounts were no better than applying them in relatively large quantities, typically as two or even one application. Good soil moisture conditions at sowing also played an important role in achieving high yields of this crop under limited water supply. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[1]  Lijun Liu,et al.  Postanthesis Water Deficits Enhance Grain Filling in Two‐Line Hybrid Rice , 2003 .

[2]  D. Tennant,et al.  A test of a modified line intersect method of estimating root length , 1975 .

[3]  Marshall English,et al.  Perspectives on deficit irrigation , 1996 .

[4]  F. D. Whisler,et al.  Root Distribution and Water Use Efficiency of Alfalfa as Influenced by Depth of Irrigation1 , 1983 .

[5]  S. Assouline,et al.  Microdrip Irrigation of Field Crops , 2002 .

[6]  Yanjun Shen,et al.  Effects of irrigation on water balance, yield and WUE of winter wheat in the North China Plain , 2006 .

[7]  M. Foale,et al.  Responses of grain sorghum to varying irrigation frequency in the ord irrigation area. II: Evapotranspiration, water use efficiency and root distribution of different cultivars , 1984 .

[8]  Xiying Zhang,et al.  Improved Water Use Efficiency Associated with Cultivars and Agronomic Management in the North China Plain , 2005 .

[9]  Tammo S. Steenhuis,et al.  A soil‐water‐balance approach to quantify groundwater recharge from irrigated cropland in the North China Plain , 2003 .

[10]  T. Hsiao,et al.  Physiological Consequences of Cellular Water Deficits 1sa , 1983 .

[11]  Chunsheng Hu,et al.  Conserving groundwater for irrigation in the North China Plain , 2002, Irrigation Science.

[12]  L. S. Pereira,et al.  Crop evapotranspiration : guidelines for computing crop water requirements , 1998 .

[13]  E. Fereres,et al.  Deficit irrigation for reducing agricultural water use. , 2006, Journal of experimental botany.

[14]  B. Clothier,et al.  Review article Rootzone Processes and the efficient use of irrigation water , 1994 .

[15]  H. L. Manges,et al.  Frequency of irrigation for subsurface drip-irrigated corn , 1994 .

[16]  P. Abbate,et al.  Climatic and Water Availability Effects on Water‐Use Efficiency in Wheat , 2004 .

[17]  Xiying Zhang,et al.  Root growth and soil water utilization of winter wheat in the North China Plain , 2004 .

[18]  A. Clemmens,et al.  Cotton response to high frequency surface irrigation , 1998 .

[19]  K. Uçan,et al.  Effect of irrigation frequency and amount on water use efficiency and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under field conditions , 2007 .

[20]  J. Passioura,et al.  Grain yield, harvest index, and water use of wheat. , 1977 .

[21]  R. Wallach,et al.  Integrated effect of irrigation frequency and phosphorus level on lettuce: P uptake, root growth and yield , 2004, Plant and Soil.

[22]  E. Segal,et al.  Root Water Uptake Efficiency Under Ultra-High Irrigation Frequency , 2006, Plant and Soil.

[23]  O. F. French,et al.  Yield Enhancement in Cotton by Frequent Irrigations during Fruiting , 1992 .

[24]  P. Barraclough,et al.  Effects of a compacted subsoil layer on root and shoot growth, water use and nutrient uptake of winter wheat , 1988, The Journal of Agricultural Science.

[25]  H. C. Harris,et al.  Improving Water use Efficiency of Annual Crops in the Rainfed Farming Systems of West Asia and North Africa , 1987, Experimental Agriculture.

[26]  Dr. Wolfgang Böhm.  Methods of Studying Root Systems , 1979, Ecological Studies.

[27]  Marshall J. English,et al.  Deficit irrigation. I. Analytical framework , 1990 .

[28]  B. L. Unruh,et al.  COTTON RESPONSE TO SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION FREQUENCY UNDER DEFICIT IRRIGATION , 2003 .

[29]  Hongyong Sun,et al.  Performance of double-cropped winter wheat-summer maize under minimum irrigation in the North China Plain , 2006 .

[30]  Yongqiang Zhang,et al.  Determination of daily evaporation and evapotranspiration of winter wheat and maize by large-scale weighing lysimeter and micro-lysimeter , 2002 .

[31]  M. Entz,et al.  Root growth and soil-water extraction by winter and spring wheat , 1992 .